Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution
Although diet has contributed significantly to the evolution of human beings, the composition of the diet that has most affected this phenomenon is still an open issue. Diet has undoubtedly participated in the acquisition of the skills that underlie the differentiation of humans from other animal sp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7805 |
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| author | Patrizia Restani Francesca Colombo Simone Biella Corinne Bani Francesca Mercogliano Chiara Di Lorenzo |
| author_facet | Patrizia Restani Francesca Colombo Simone Biella Corinne Bani Francesca Mercogliano Chiara Di Lorenzo |
| author_sort | Patrizia Restani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although diet has contributed significantly to the evolution of human beings, the composition of the diet that has most affected this phenomenon is still an open issue. Diet has undoubtedly participated in the acquisition of the skills that underlie the differentiation of humans from other animal species and in this context the development of the nervous system has played a primary role. This paper aimed to: (1) outline the relationship between diet and human evolution; (2) evaluate how a variation in food consumption may have contributed to the enhancement of cognitive and adaptive capacities. The most widespread diet among the ancient populations that showed the highest levels of civilization (that is well-organized societies, using advanced technical tools, and promoting art and science) was very close to what is now defined as the Mediterranean diet. This suggests that a dietary approach typical of the Mediterranean basin (little meat and some fish; abundant cereals, legumes, fruit, vegetables and wine) significantly increased the intake of antioxidant molecules, including polyphenols, which along with other factors may have modulated the cognitive evolution of humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:09:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ad799fcf52d4a828ad02f48abf4eb8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:09:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ad799fcf52d4a828ad02f48abf4eb8a2023-12-01T22:51:04ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-08-011215780510.3390/app12157805Diet, Polyphenols, and Human EvolutionPatrizia Restani0Francesca Colombo1Simone Biella2Corinne Bani3Francesca Mercogliano4Chiara Di Lorenzo5Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, ItalySafety Assessment of Xenobiotics and Biotechnological Products, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, ItalyAlthough diet has contributed significantly to the evolution of human beings, the composition of the diet that has most affected this phenomenon is still an open issue. Diet has undoubtedly participated in the acquisition of the skills that underlie the differentiation of humans from other animal species and in this context the development of the nervous system has played a primary role. This paper aimed to: (1) outline the relationship between diet and human evolution; (2) evaluate how a variation in food consumption may have contributed to the enhancement of cognitive and adaptive capacities. The most widespread diet among the ancient populations that showed the highest levels of civilization (that is well-organized societies, using advanced technical tools, and promoting art and science) was very close to what is now defined as the Mediterranean diet. This suggests that a dietary approach typical of the Mediterranean basin (little meat and some fish; abundant cereals, legumes, fruit, vegetables and wine) significantly increased the intake of antioxidant molecules, including polyphenols, which along with other factors may have modulated the cognitive evolution of humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7805polyphenolshuman evolutioncognitive evolutionMediterranean diet |
| spellingShingle | Patrizia Restani Francesca Colombo Simone Biella Corinne Bani Francesca Mercogliano Chiara Di Lorenzo Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution Applied Sciences polyphenols human evolution cognitive evolution Mediterranean diet |
| title | Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution |
| title_full | Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution |
| title_fullStr | Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution |
| title_short | Diet, Polyphenols, and Human Evolution |
| title_sort | diet polyphenols and human evolution |
| topic | polyphenols human evolution cognitive evolution Mediterranean diet |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7805 |
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